Garden paradise on the outskirts of Paris

Delbard occupies something of an exceptional position in France. The family firm, founded by Georges Delbard in 1935, is one of the world’s leading horticultural companies. It has 500 employees and achieved sales last year of 62 mio €. At its headquarters in Malicorne, Delbard has 600 hectares of nurseries for the cultivation of roses and fruit trees. The company has built up an impressive international reputation with the work it started in the 1950s on growing roses and fruit trees, and has also pioneered in-vitro propagation of roses and fruit tree rootstock.
The outer façade of the garden centre is modelled architecturally and stylistically on the design of the neighbouring shopping mall.
Delbard is active in other distribution channels as well as the traditional wholesale and retail trade, marketing its branded products to resellers in France and abroad. The company set up a mail-order business as long ago as 1938. The importance of this venture is reflected in the print run of 1.4 million catalogues that are sent out every year. Delbard also has great expectations of its business transacted via the Internet, which is being used to expand the company’s operations outside France. In addition to this, the company operates 19 garden centres and a franchise business. Delbard is planning to open another new garden centre in the spring in Flins. With a retail area of almost 6 000 m² and adjacent gardens, the new outlet is based on the concept unveiled for the first time in Val d’Europe. A further new opening this year is to be run as a franchise operation.
Looks stunning: the entrance hall to the garden centre in the Val d’Europe.
All Delbard garden centres stock a full range of goods, with the emphasis on plants. Particular attention is devoted to the outdoor segment, which in the case of Val d’Europe covers 1 800 m². High-quality wood shelving and the boutique character of the various departments are established features of the themed concept implemented by Delbard. In addition to garden equipment, lawn care products and seeds, exclusive garden furniture, handicraft accessories and floristry articles, the garden centres also stock health and well-being products, high-class goods for the home and regional products such as marmalade and honey. A lot of space is given over to seasonal themed islands, and from late autumn onwards visitors to Delbard were able to enjoy a large, lavish Christmas market with a wide selection of merchandise. The garden centres also…